The Foolproof Eggs Benedict Recipe: Brunch’s Finest Star

Crafting a delectable eggs benedict requires skill and a touch of culinary magic.

Rich hollandaise sauce and perfectly poached eggs create a breakfast masterpiece that feels luxurious.

Crisp canadian bacon nestles between toasted english muffins, adding layers of savory goodness.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of creamy, tangy, and salty flavors.

Restaurants might charge premium prices, but you can master this classic dish at home with confidence.

Professionals and home cooks alike appreciate the elegant simplicity of this brunch favorite.

Dive into this recipe and impress everyone at your next weekend gathering.

Why Eggs Benedict Is A Classic Favorite

• Master Brunch Classic: Transform your morning with this iconic dish that brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your kitchen.
• Technique Builder: Learn professional cooking skills like poaching eggs and creating hollandaise sauce, boosting your culinary confidence with each step.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: Easily adapt the recipe by swapping bacon for ham, salmon, or vegetarian options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences.
• Impressive Entertaining Dish: Serve this gourmet breakfast that looks complicated but is surprisingly manageable for home cooks, guaranteed to wow guests at weekend gatherings.

Ingredients For Making Eggs Benedict

• Eggs: Fresh eggs are the star of this classic breakfast dish, providing a rich and creamy poached centerpiece.
• Back Bacon: Adds a savory and meaty layer to the classic Eggs Benedict.

• English Muffins: Crisp and buttery base that provides a perfect foundation for the dish.

• White Vinegar, Chives: Help with egg poaching and add a fresh garnish.
• Butter: Used for toasting muffins and adding richness.
• Hollandaise Sauce: Creamy, tangy sauce that brings all the components together with a luxurious finish.

How To Prepare Eggs Benedict At Home

Step 1: Prepare Poaching Water

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add a splash of vinegar and reduce the heat to create a gentle, simmering environment for your eggs.

Step 2: Gently Poach Eggs

Carefully crack each egg into a small ramekin. Slowly slide the eggs into the simmering water, creating a delicate whirlpool to help the egg whites wrap around the yolk. Cook four eggs at a time.

Step 3: Create Perfect Poached Eggs

Remove the pot from heat and cover with a lid. Let the eggs rest in the hot water for approximately 4 minutes. This allows the whites to set while keeping the yolks wonderfully runny and golden.

Step 4: Remove and Drain Eggs

Use a slotted spoon to lift the poached eggs from the water. Gently place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess moisture. Repeat the poaching process for any remaining eggs.

Step 5: Crisp the Bacon

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the back bacon slices in the pan and cook until they develop a beautiful golden-brown color on both sides. The edges should be slightly crisp and deliciously caramelized.

Step 6: Toast English Muffins

Set the oven to broil. Spread a layer of butter on each English muffin half. Arrange the muffins cut-side up on a baking sheet, preparing them for a quick golden toasting.

Step 7: Create Golden Muffin Bases

Slide the baking sheet under the broiler. Watch carefully as the muffins transform into golden, crispy bases that will support your eggs benedict. This should take 1-3 minutes.

Step 8: Assemble the Masterpiece

Arrange the crispy bacon on each toasted muffin half. Delicately place a perfectly poached egg on top of each slice. Generously spoon hollandaise sauce over the eggs. Sprinkle finely chopped chives as a final flourish of flavor and color.

Helpful Tips For Better Eggs Benedict

• Vinegar Trick: Add a splash of white vinegar to the poaching water to help the egg whites coagulate quickly and create a neater poached egg.
• Egg Freshness Matters: Use the freshest eggs possible for poaching, as they hold their shape better and create more compact poached eggs.
• Gentle Simmer Secret: Maintain a very gentle simmer when poaching eggs to prevent the egg whites from breaking apart in the water.
• Toast Timing Tip: Watch English muffins closely under the broiler to prevent burning, as they can quickly go from golden to charred.
• Sauce Smoothness Hack: Whisk hollandaise sauce continuously and remove from heat immediately to prevent separation and ensure a silky-smooth texture.

Ways To Customize Eggs Benedict Your Way

• Salmon Benedict: Replace back bacon with smoked salmon for a lighter, omega-rich alternative that adds a delicate seafood flavor.
• Vegetarian Benedict: Swap bacon with grilled portobello mushrooms or roasted asparagus spears to create a plant-based version that maintains the classic texture.
• Gluten-Free Benedict: Use gluten-free English muffins or swap with roasted sweet potato slices as a nutritious base for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Low-Carb Benedict: Substitute English muffins with large roasted portobello mushroom caps or crisp lettuce leaves for a carbohydrate-reduced option that keeps the dish's core elements intact.

Perfect Sides With Eggs Benedict

• Crisp Champagne Complement: Select a dry, sparkling champagne that cuts through the rich hollandaise sauce and complements the creamy poached egg's delicate flavor.
• Bright Citrus Salad Sidekick: Create a light mixed greens salad with orange segments and a lemon vinaigrette to balance the heavy, buttery breakfast dish and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Herb-Infused Mimosa Boost: Mix fresh orange juice with champagne and add a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary to enhance the herbal notes of the chives and create a sophisticated breakfast drink.
• Roasted Potato Accompaniment: Prepare crispy herb-roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic to add a crunchy texture that complements the soft eggs and provides a hearty side dish.

How To Store Eggs Benedict The Right Way

• Store leftover Eggs Benedict components separately in airtight containers. Keep poached eggs, bacon, and muffins in different sealed containers to maintain freshness for up to 2 days.
• Toast English muffins lightly in a toaster or under the broiler until crisp and warm. Avoid microwaving to prevent soggy texture.
• Quickly reheat bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat or on a baking sheet in the oven at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until crispy.
• Gently reheat poached eggs in warm (not boiling) water for 30-45 seconds. Alternatively, use a microwave on low power for 15-20 seconds, watching carefully to prevent overcooking.

Common Questions About Eggs Benedict

• What is a poached egg?

A poached egg is an egg cracked into simmering water and cooked gently without its shell, resulting in a soft white and runny yolk.

• Why add vinegar to the water when poaching eggs?

Vinegar helps the egg whites coagulate faster and stay together, preventing them from spreading out in the water during cooking.

• Can I make hollandaise sauce in advance?

Yes, you can prepare hollandaise sauce ahead of time and gently reheat it over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent separation.

• What can I substitute for back bacon?

You can use regular bacon, Canadian bacon, ham, or even smoked salmon as alternatives to back bacon in Eggs Benedict.

Eggs Benedict Recipe

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4.5 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Indulgent Eggs Benedict brings classic brunch elegance to your morning table with Canadian bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and rich hollandaise sauce. Creamy, tangy flavors blend seamlessly, inviting you to savor each luxurious bite of this timeless breakfast favorite.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• 8 large eggs
• 8 slices back bacon (Canadian bacon)

Bread and Base:

• 4 English muffins (halved)
• 1/4 cup butter (softened)

Sauce and Garnish:

• 1 cup hollandaise sauce
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon chives (finely chopped)

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Instructions

1. Prepare a simmering water bath by filling a pot with water, adding vinegar, and reducing heat to create gentle bubbles.
2. Carefully transfer each egg from its ramekin into the warm water, ensuring a delicate descent to maintain egg integrity.
3. Allow eggs to poach for approximately 4 minutes, monitoring the transformation of whites from translucent to opaque while preserving liquid yolk centers.
4. Extract poached eggs using a perforated utensil, gently patting dry on absorbent toweling to remove excess moisture.
5. Activate a skillet over medium-high temperature, searing back bacon until edges crisp and surface develops rich caramelized tones.
6. Position oven rack near broiler element, spreading butter across English muffin surfaces to ensure even golden coloration.
7. Slide muffin halves under broiler, watching carefully for 1-2 minutes until edges transform into crisp, amber-hued surfaces.
8. Construct each benedict layer strategically: muffin foundation, crisp bacon layer, carefully positioned poached egg, then cascade hollandaise sauce across the summit, finishing with delicate chive sprinkles for visual and flavor complexity.

Notes

• Perfectly poach eggs by adding a splash of vinegar to simmering water, which helps the egg whites coagulate more quickly and maintain a neat shape.
• Ensure hollandaise sauce doesn’t break by whisking constantly and maintaining a gentle, consistent heat during preparation.
• Choose Canadian bacon or ham as alternatives to back bacon for different flavor profiles and texture variations.
• Gluten-free diners can swap English muffins with roasted portobello mushrooms or gluten-free bread for a delicious adaptation.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 540 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 850 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 370 mg